Louver



J. L. REID March 4, 1952 LOUVER Filed Sept. 19, 1949 IN VEN TOR. cbH/uLYQNZPE/D wflg zau 4 7 TOR/VEH Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUVER John Lyon Reid, San Francisco, Calif. Application September 19, 1949, Serial No.-116,490

- 3 Claims.

This invention relates to structural elements for buildings and the like and more particularly to a novel structure for exterior louvres for the windows of buildings adapted to diffuse outside light in its passage into the building.

In summary, the invention comprises the provision of a window louvre system including simple and novel support means for a vertical tier of fixed louvre units arranged in parallel relation to each other and uniformly disposed angularly in spaced relation to an adjacent window, 1 or the like, so as to efiiciently bar the entry of direct sun rays through the window while admitting an adequate amount of light in the form of diffused rays, said support means being such as to offer minimum areal obstruction to the dif-l fused light rays and being of such form as to provide a high degree of supporting strength per I unit of weight, thus enabling louvre elements of relatively great length and, therefore, of comparatively high total weight, despite their lightweight per unit of length, to be carried, such systems being particularly desirable and adapted for the shielding of such large and elongated windows as are being provided of late in school buildings, particularly at the sun-exposed sides of the same.

Other objects and advantages of the louvre system of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing forming part of this specifi cation, and in which:

Figure 1 is a partial view in elevation of a face: of a building embodying the louvre structure of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section taken through the face of the building of Figure 1,

showing the louvres and support means therefor in detail; and

Figure 3 is a partial view in front elevatioin partly broken away to show the transverse di'-" mensions of a louvre support bracket, of the louvre system of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing for more specific de tails of the invention, the building structure of igurel comprises structural columns l0, supporting wall l2 and roof M, the latter being pro;

vided with an overhanging eave I6. Between,

the wall 12, which terminates at the horizontally;

disposed panel l8, and the eave Hi, there is provided "in inwardly oifset fashion a window 20 sup l ported in vertical sashes 22 and horizontal sashes 24, the structural support for said sashes being shown in detail in Figure 2. Secured at spaced intervals to the sash members 22 and 24 is a plurality of vertically disposed bracket members indicated generally at 26 and comprising spaced foot sections 28, secured to the sash members, as by screws 30, interconnected by out wardly offset sectionsindicated generally at 32. The sections 32 comprise short upper and longer lower legs 34 and 36, respectively, interconnected by angularly inclined face sections 38 serving as the supporting surfaces for the louvre members 40. The face sections 38 are preferably inclined at an angle of 45 with respect to the legs 34.

'The louvre members 40, shown as being of shallow channel-form in cross section, may each consist of a plurality of sections arranged end to end and forming butt joints over the center lines of the face sections 38, with the section ends of the louvres being secured thereto, a by machine screws, not shown. When in place, the outer or lower ends of the louvres are in vertical alignment, and the uniform transverse dimension of the louvres is such that the lower end of each louvre extends to substantially the level of the upper end of the next lower louvre.

The brackets 26 constitute a simple, light weight, high strength supporting means for the louvre members, enabling the ready installation of the louvres while dispensing with the need for any end edge supporting members for the louvres or any other auxiliary supports which might require a specific contour or formation of the adjacent building structure elements in order to accommodate, or be adapted to, the same.

It is also to be noted that the end surfaces of the well defining with the panel 18 and overhanging eave IS a recess in which the louvre system resides effectively prevent the entry of direct light endwise between the louvres, thus ensuring that direct light coming from any source above the horizontal will be excluded from passage through the louvre system. It is also to be pointed out that the louvres are carried in outwardly spaced relation from the window 20, thus increasing the effective passageway for diffused light, since the spaces between the upper edges of the louvres 40 and the window are utilized for such purpose.

. While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be clear 'to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains that other embodiments and modifications may be contrived without departing from the spirit of the invention, and thus it is 55 to be understood that the scope of the invention a; is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a light-diffusing system for the windows of a building structure, a louvre support bracket comprising a, unitary strip having a plurality of spaced apart co-planar foot portions, interconnected by laterally offset portions each of said laterally offset portions comprisin a pair of spaced leg members of dissimilar length interconnected by a bridge member forming an acute angle with the longer of said leg members and an obtuse angle with the shorter of said leg members, said bracket being adapted to have its foot portions secured to window sash so-that the bracket extends vertically across a window, with the bridge members thereof being adapted to serve as the supporting surfaces for a plurality of louvre members carried in spaced angular relation with respect to the window.

2. A light diiTusion system for a, window of a building structure comprising a plurality of alike louvre support brackets in parallel spaced relation extending vertically across a, window, each bracket comprisin a unitary strip having a plurality of spaced apart co-planar foot portions interconnected by laterally offset portions, each of said offset portions comprising a pair of spaced leg members of dissimilar length interconnected by a bridge member forming an acute angle with the lower and longer of said leg members and an obtuse angle with the higher and shorter of said leg members, means for securing said foot portions to the sash of said window, a plurality 3a of vertically spaced horizontally extending louvre members carried by the bridge members of said brackets in spaced angular relation with respect to the window, and means comprising the outside wall forms of the building defining a lateral enclosure or niche for said louvre members adapted in conjunction with said louvre members to inhibit the entry of natural direct light through said window and into said building structure. V

3. For the window of a building structure, a fixed louvre system comprising a strip member having at least a pair of spaced apart co-planar 'foot portions interconnected by a laterally offset J OHN' LYON REID.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,871,035 Burns Aug. 9, 1932 2,254,947 Judge Sept. 2, 1941 2,332,339 Pratt Oct. 19, 1943 2,458,619 McKinley Jan. 1 1. 1949 

